Curse of the Phoenix

Ch.42 -Vision Turned Reality

Dru~

I had decided that I would leave in search of Angela and Solembum in two weeks time. For now, I had to look after the others and make sure nothing else strange had happened. It had been around three weeks since whatever happened occurred, at least I thought so. The only way to tell time among the towering green giants was to look at the moon and watch the sun. They dictated the hours here, and even then sometimes two days ended up blending into one.

Loth was out hunting tonight, so I was alone. I was in my room, practicing the Rimgar. I kept on getting stuck on one move, where you stood up and pulled your leg up by your shoulder. I kept on losing my balance. I didn't get mad, it was just annoying, Alice was so much better than I, if she wanted to she could balance herself on a single finger. And she could. We as a family had been bonded to dragons for so long, that we were physically changing.

Our father was a rider, so that was automatically a little bit of magic carried in the blood. Mom could work a little magic, another plus. I and every single one of my siblings was bonded to a dragon. So, even more magic in the blood. It sort of made the whole changing process happen faster, though I was nothing compared to Eragon or Arya. A half-elf and an elf, they were practically magic personified.

I had to admit I was a little jealous about that. Who wouldn't be? I exhaled and pulled my leg harder. If I pulled too hard, though, I could pull a small tendon by my hip. I had done it before...and it wasn't exactly pain free. I could vouch for that. Eventually I had enough of the Rimgar, I wasn't mastering that move anytime soon, practice even as I did. I was sweaty and tired, but I didn't want to go to bed like that.

With a small jump i was outside and onto the path. Loth had gone north, but i didn't know how far, and I wasn't about to get lost in the great forest. I had nobody to talk to, and I was a bit lonely. So I decided on finding either of my brothers. I didn't know where either of them were, to be specific. So, it would be an adventure of sorts.

I decided to start in the most obvious place possible, because that's where nobody ever checked and where what you were looking for usually was. For Mikael, the library, even if it was late. Luke, well, he was probably passed out in his bed. The bed was the easiest option, as the library was a good ten-minute sprint from here, at least.

I didn't exactly have an idea where Luke was sleeping, as sometimes he would end up just crashing on a couch somewhere. His room was, however, only a few down from where mine was. I opened one of the small, wooden doors and began the climb into the towers in which we stayed. There were seven of them, one for each of the five of us, and two more in case any other riders were found or Murtagh and/or Eragon decided to visit.

The towers were grown from trees, and they were tall too. Big enough for the dragons to fly up into, so that if they wanted to they could sleep with their rider. The towers were essentially seperate, but if you were careful enough you could jump from branch to branch and easily make your way from one tower to another. The branches here were thicker than a man, so weight was no problem.

They were beautiful, sung from trees, like the wood flowed from place to place as if it was water. I got to the top of mine, a room with a small, open side.

I stepped out and landed on a branch. It shook slightly, but that was it. I walked with light footfalls, keeping my balance and trying not to disturb anyone. With a small jump I got from a branch on my tower to a branch on Luke's. And then the wave hit me.

The last time, by the lake...that had been agony, pure pain. And it knocked me out. This time...it was loneliness. Emptiness. Just an abyss..I couldn't feel any of the life that I usually did. I was totally isolated. I felt truly alone, and it scared me. I was still on a branch. Last time I had passed out. If I did so this far above the ground...I might break my neck.

I took a step. And my stomach dropped. This time...this was fear. Fear...not agony...terror...I kept going, each step worsening the feeling. I almost though I was going to throw up, but then I climbed onto the balcony. And I crawled into Luke's room. He was on the floor in the fetal position, and shaking. At the smallest sound he looked up, and I could see the fear in his eyes.

"Dru..." he groaned.

"I know...ah..." I managed to say. It physically hurt. Verdana wasn't here. Oh yeah....she had gone hunting with Loth. I thought...we didn't deserve this. I had brothers and sisters, and a beautiful dragon who loved me. I was never alone. "Fight it Luke...im here with you." He just groaned and screwed his eyes up, setting his head against the floor.

Then I began to cough, and my body began to throb. My throat began to burn.

No....not again...not the fire....gods no..

I began to scream as my arms felt like they were once again being shredded open. I looked down at them. And they were. On each arm, small, deep cuts had formed...they bled real blood...and there was nothing I could have cut myself on.

Luke's agonized cries of pain filled my ears, and my eyes teared up. I looked over at him, and watched as his skin split and bled. I had a strange feeling in the back of my throat, and I bent over, I thought I was about to hurl. Then...bliss. As if water was in my throat. The water welled up and left my body as I watched. But it was not water. It was red, but it was not blood. It was a glowing red, mist, that twisted and curled as if it was flame.

The mist rose and hovered above my head. The hair on my arms stood up straight. Magic. Then more of it appeared, and I looked over to see ut coming out of Luke. He hacked and then bent over. I looked at the mist. It merged with the other stream. Two wings formed. A tail. And a head.

This bird was real, this was no fever dream. It was here, before my very eyes. It looked me in the eye. Then it opened it's beak and uttered a scream. A scream of delight. It flapped its wings once, and the temperature in the room changed, rose in temperature until it felt like my skin was blistering off. It shrieked again, and flew out, to the balcony. The room was red.

The bird flew out of the tower, a glowing speck in the night. I saw three more ribbons of the mist, twisting up towards the bird. So, I was watching, and barely noticed the flames. The fire consuming the wooden tower all around us. And then I did.

Its trying to kill us...to burn us alive..I won't let it.

Only by will I got to my feet. I bellowed, and had a burst of strength that allowed me to lift Luke over my shoulders. I took a step, and my foot began to burn.

I took another step, and onto the balcony. There was no safety anymore, just pain and the will to escape. I stepped off of the balcony. And we began to fall. The ground rose up to meet me, as well as a few pairs of arms.

I saw Arya, and another few elves who I didn't recognize. Arya had nothing but concern in her eyes.

"Dru do you have any idea what is going on?"

"Heal Luke first..please.."

"You're burned, Dru-"

"I dont care! Help him!" My voice was hoarse and slick with blood.

"Alright, but do you know what's going on? I have half a dozen elves scrying, and a quarter of the city is on fire! Luna and Alice are missing, Mikael is too.." She trailed off..

"Its him...the phoenix...he's real.."